Feinstein: Gun-control advocates shrinking in Congress

7/22/12 9:51 AM EDT

The congressional gun control caucus is shrinking because of the political strength of groups like the National Rifle Association who have had a hand in defeating pro-gun control lawmakers, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said Sunday.

"The gun organizations go out to defeat people in states where they can, and they pour a lot of money in and some people lost office after they voted for the legislation before," Feinstein, who led the charge for the 1994 federal assault weapons ban, said on "Fox News Sunday."

"I believe people use these weapons because they can get them, she said. "I believe that a revolver, a rifle, a shotgun isn't going to do the damage. It's the big clips. It's 100 rounds, You can not get to him to dislodge the gun because he can fire so rapidly and has so many bullets. Why do you need this?"